Latest news with #EcoCentre
Otago Daily Times
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Workshop will go vinyl
Taking the time to appreciate the records for sale at the Crow's Nest before they are upcycled into works of art these school holidays are (from left) Alice Brice, Marlene Medhurst, and Chris Konings. PHOTO: SHELLEY INON A workshop this school holidays is offering participants the chance to compete — or simply complete. South Canterbury Eco Centre activator Alice Brice said the centre in Redruth hosted a children's activity during every term break, and these school holidays, they would be upcycling old records. "We're getting records from the Crow's Nest and we're going to upcycle them into something that's functional." The workshop aimed to inspire children to upcycle, from moulding records into pots for succulents or cutting them out and covering them with a mosaic to make a centrepiece. "It's just trying to give them an opportunity to try and upcycle." Mrs Brice said an added bonus for children was being able to use their upcycled record as their entry in the Junk to Funk competition which would be held at the end of next month. She said the secret to manipulating vinyl records into a vase was to put them in the oven at a low temperature. "And then you pull it out and you can work with it. Come to the workshop and find out the right heat and the right times." The Eco Centre is raising funds for the installation of a natural play space behind the centre, and while the $5 workshop entry fee would go towards materials, any money left over would go to the playground. The workshop will be held at the Eco Centre in Redruth, and pre-booking is essential to ensure sufficient materials are provided. "We're getting entries in. Go to the website to find the information." The upcycled records would be on show at the Junk to Funk festival.
BBC News
12-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Adult education centres to shut across Derbyshire
Several adult education centres are set to close this summer across Derbyshire, with uncertainty over whether courses offered within them will centres such as the Eco Centre in Wirksworth, and centres in Alfreton, Ashbourne, Matlock, Shirebrook, Long Eaton and the Toolbox in Glossop will cease to offer adult education courses at the end of July, Derbyshire County Council Reform UK-run authority said it was part of a review into adult education services and was "based on changing priorities of the funding bodies that pay for our community adult education service".The authority said it was looking into whether courses could be run in alternative venues, or "if we run them at all in the future". No final decisions have been council receives funding for the centres predominantly from central government and the East Midlands Mayoral Combined this year the government cut the adult skills budget by about 6%.The council has sought to move a number of services away from bricks and mortar bases in recent years incorporating more home-based models in areas like social care, or deploying more use of digital technology. 'Extremely disappointing' Alan Squires is a member of a weekly pottery group at the Eco Centre in Wirksworth, which has been given a six-week notice to pack up its clay and glazes, potter's wheels, kilns and other kit and said: "It's very sudden - it's not the end of the next financial year, it's next month and we're out on our ear."There's a lot of people that rely upon the centre for mental wellbeing."People will be lost. It performs a crucial role in all sorts of aspects and other centres do things like teaching basic English and maths and essential skills for life."People need to be made aware of what's now being cut way beyond the bone in terms of functions of the county council."Derbyshire's Conservative group leader Alex Dale said the decision was "extremely disappointing" and pointed the finger at funding cuts from central said: "We will be pushing to ensure, at the very least, that alternative venues can be found for as many courses as possible in those communities affected."Adult education plays a vitally important role and it's essential that it remains accessible to all."The BBC has contacted the Department for Education and the East Midlands Mayor's office for comment.
